TeleVue TV-60 60mm f/6 Telescope

TeleVue TV-60 60mm f6 apo body The compact, portable TeleVue TV-60 60mm f/6 apo body is perfectly designed for its objectives, and executes them in a quality, attractive package. The TV-60 has been updated to address a few imaging issues, and maintains all of the benefits of a great 66mm aperture scope. First and foremost, the TV-60 is an ideal on the go scope. Weighing in at a little under 2kg and a bit longer than 25cm, the smallest in the TeleVue line defines portability. The sheer size of it alone is almost enough to add to your collection, as it can be taken just about anywhere for your observational and imaging needs. It also features a balancing bar with a dovetail mount and it fits all SCT brackets. This is an important part of the TV-60's versatility, since it can be used for a wide range of uses. It feels perfectly comfortable as a spotting scope, guide scope, viewfinder, observational scope or telephoto lens.

All of this is possible because of the TV-60's construction, as it doesn't sacrifice performance for size. First of all, it is important to understand the limitations of a 66mm aperture, but in that class of scope, it offers surprisingly striking images. In fact, the most surprising aspect of the image is the wide field attributed to its doublet refractor, creating a 4.3 degree field of view. Everything about the scope is tuned for its small size. The 360mm focal length perfectly compliments the 60mm aperture, creating a high-quality image in all of its many uses. The scope is completely capable of its higher end of magnification recommendation of 180x, which equals 75x to every inch of aperture. The dual-stage focuser leads to responsive focusing of a quality image from such a compact design.

The modified refractor represents an advance in the TV-60's design. Where before it created problems when shooting with a large CCD chip, imaging has been improved with a rear lens group enlarged to accommodate these chips. The additional field flattener answers the issues that most seriously plagued the capability of the scope as an imaging device.

The only lingering sub-par quality elements are the carrying case and lens cap, but overall, the TeleVue TV-60 shines due to its go-anywhere versatility.